§ 86. Mr. Toucheasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the Reigate food office has recently refused a number of applications made by gardeners with an agricultural employment card for extra cheese rations; and, in view of the fact that these men have hitherto received these rations, he will state the reason for the change.
§ Mr. StracheyOwing to an error in the local food office, which I regret, the special cheese ration was withheld from some gardeners; but immediately the matter was reported to the Divisional Food Officer the ration was restored.
87. Mr. Amoryasked the Minister of Food why estate carpenters, masons and bricklayers are not among the categories entitled to cheese and extra bread rations, 192W seeing that they are habitually dependent on a packed midday meal; and whether he will arrange for them to be so included.
§ Mr. StracheyBuilding trades workers, generally, are not eligible for the special cheese ration and I regret that I cannot make individual exceptions.
§ Mr. Parkinasked the Minister of Food if he will allow to manual workers laying gas-mains across country the same cheese ration as is given to those laying water-mains.
§ Mr. StracheyThe special cheese ration is allowed for employees of waterworks undertakings who are unable to take advantage of canteens or other catering facilities. Workers employed on the laying of gas mains are only intermittently and for comparatively short periods working on sites which are remote from all catering facilities and I regret that I should not feel justified in extending the grant of the special ration to them.